Aug 24, 20212 min read

Water Wisely

Water being one of the most essential resources, we should use it wisely without wasting it on our gardens. Water waste can lead to soil erosion, overwatered crops and unnecessary spend. Here are few tips to give your plants the water they need with as little waste as possible

Care for your soil.

To help retain moisture to your soil one must add organic matter like well rotted farmyard manure, leaf mold or compost to it and improve its structure. Plant soil rich in clay minerals has better expanding properties and therefore can hold soil in the water better and in a more even way.

Plant drought tolerant plants to save water.

How to water your plants

Slightly drying your plants before watering them can help you grow the roots of your plants better as most plants depend on even moisture.
Water your plants early in the morning or in the evening so that the water doesn't evaporate in the heat of the sun before it reaches the roots of your plants.
Plants should get water less often but thoroughly. Feeding plenty of water to your plants rarely is better than watering them little and often
Water must sufficiently reach the roots. Too low water in your plants reaches only the surface of your soil not reaching the roots of them, make sure your soil is damp enough and gets sufficient water.
Rather than using sprinklers, drip irrigation systems are more efficient as they get water directly to the roots of the plants.
While watering try to keep your leaves of the plant dry as wet leaves kept overnight may result in leaf-mold. one must also avoid watering plants in the afternoon to stem them from developing slight burn marks on the leaves.
Avoid water logging as it suppresses the breathing air of the roots out of the soil and the root cells drown because of no supply of oxygen.
In hanging containers and baskets you can add water retaining gel or compost.